When the weather brought blankets of snow to campus, Binghamton University President Harvey Stenger, in the spirit of the season, decided to hold a snow sculpture contest, promising prizes and awards to the coolest creations. Here are the winners and their respective categories.

Asbestos abatement of ceiling and floor tiles will take place in the sixth floor conference room and an adjacent room of the Administration Building from Monday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Dec. 16. Air monitoring will be in place before, during and after the abatement which is needed for an upcoming project to expand the conference room. Contact Michele Deskin with any questions via email or at 607-777-5204.

Lavender Graduation is held on many campuses to honor LGBTQIAP graduating students and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the University. The new LGBTQ Center will host its first ceremony at the end of the spring semester.

Lavender Graduation will be open to undergraduate and graduate students planning to graduate in December 2016, May or August 2017. Encourage students who may wish to participate to complete this online form. Students must register by Jan. 31, 2017, but early registration is encouraged.

Applications for Individual Development Awards (IDA) are now available. The IDA program provides up to $1,000 for UUP-represented employees to engage in activities that further professional development. Part-time employees are particularly encouraged to apply, because 15 percent of the funds are set aside for these employees. The IDA Program is intended to assist eligible employees to develop their full professional potential and to prepare for advancement. Funding may be provided to enhance teaching, research capabilities, professional knowledge and skills. Funding may not be awarded to purchase equipment or supplies or to support activities that are not related to the applicant's SUNY profession. Examples of activities contributing to professional development include travel to conferences, preparation of material for publication, and artistic or creative endeavors.

Funding for this round of Individual Development Awards is available for projects that occur in the time period July 2, 2016 through March 31, 2017. Projects taking place from July 2, 2016, to present may be funded retroactively.

The hard deadline for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. Decisions about funding will be made by the first week in February 2017. For questions about the program, contact Fran Goldman via email or at 607-777-4938.

The Office of the Dean of Students has coordinated extended study locations and hours, as well as food options and study tips, from now through Finals Week. All details can be found online. Included on the webpage is a Google Calendar with all campus and University Downtown Center dates and hours – some with spaces open 24 hours – as well as places to get food and drink, De-stress December events, and study and research tips.

Renovations are underway on the third floor of Old O'Connor to install partitions, doors, carpeting and to create a kitchenette and small conference room. Work will continue through March 2017. The contractor may occasionally use the building elevator to deliver supplies to the work area and will also be using the C1 stairwell. Work hours are generally 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Contact project coordinator Gregg Konnick with any questions via email or at 607-777-2598.

The Interdisciplinary Collaboration Grants (ICG) Program provides funds to facilitate the development of collaborations at Binghamton University. This program is for investigators who seek to enhance their research opportunities through collaboration and may include projects that represent a new research agenda. Proposals from all areas of scholarship are encouraged. Proposals that involve faculty from more than one department are encouraged. Projects funded through this program are expected to lead to the development of a proposal for external support. Twelve-month awards will be made for projects beginning June 1, 2017.

All Clinique products will be 20 percent off now thru Dec. 23, while supplies last. New products and colors just arrived. Sale cannot be combined with other discounts including the faculty/staff discount. For more information, contact the Binghamton Bookstore.

Nominations are being sought for the University Award for Excellence in International Education. The University Award for Excellence in International Education recognizes one member of Binghamton University's faculty or staff for outstanding efforts in support of the University's longstanding commitment to internationalization.

The Division of Research announces its annual call for a new Organized Research Center (ORC).

Binghamton University’s ORCs provide a supportive infrastructure for interdisciplinary research on the campus. The ORCs facilitate research collaborations; disseminate research results through research conferences, meeting and other activities; strengthen graduate and undergraduate education by providing students with training opportunities and access to facilities; and seek extramural funds for research and scholarly activities. ORCs are led by tenured, full-time faculty and include three or more faculty working in a critical realm from one of more departments. ORCs are established based on the determination that the existence of the ORC is necessary for the center to be successful in achieving its goals and objectives. ORCs are established with internal start-up funding and should become self-sustaining within three to five years.